grrm.astormofswords-第17节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


He　was　weeping　freely　now；　salt　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks。　〃The　fire　took　it　all　。　。　。　the　fire　。　。　。〃
　Perhaps　it　was　only　wind　blowing　against　the　rock；　or　the　sound　of　the　sea　on　the　shore；　but　for　an　instant　Davos　Seaworth　heard　her　answer。　〃You　called　the　fire；〃　she　whispered；　her　voice　as　faint　as　the　sound　of　waves　in　a　seashell；　sad　and　soft。　〃You　burned　us　。　。　。　burned　us　。　。　。　burrrmed　usssssss。〃
　〃It　was　her！〃　Davos　cried。　〃Mother；　don't　forsake　us。　It　was　her　who　burned　you；　the　red　woman；　Melisandre；　her！〃　He　could　see　her；　the　heart…shaped　face；　the　red　eyes；　the　long　coppery　hair；　her　red　gowns　moving　like　flames　as　she　walked；　a　swirl　of　silk　and　satin。　She　had　e　from　Asshai　in　the　east；　she　had　e　to　Dragonstone　and　won　Selsye　and　her　queen's　men　for　her　alien　god；　and　then　the　king；　Stannis　Baratheon　himself。　He　had　gone　so　far　as　to　put　the　fiery　heart　on　his　banners；　the　fiery　heart　of　R'hllor；　Lord　of　Light　and　God　of　Flame　and　Shadow。　At　Melisandre's　urging；　he　had　dragged　the　Seven　from　their　sept　at　Dragonstone　and　burned　them　before　the　castle　gates；　and　later　he　had　burned　the　godswood　at　Storm's　End　as　well；　even　the　heart　tree；　a　huge　white　weirwood　with　a　solemn　face。
　〃It　was　her　work；〃　Davos　said　again；　more　weakly。　Her　work；　and　yours；　onion　knight。　You　rowed　her　into　Storm's　End　in　the　black　of　night；　so　she　might　loose　her　shadow　child。　You　are　not　guiltless；　no。　You　rode　beneath　her　banner　and　flew　it　from　your　mast。　You　watched　the　Seven　burn　at　Dragonstone；　and　did　nothing。　She　gave　the　Father's　justice　to　the　fire；　and　the　Mother's　mercy；　and　the　wisdom　of　the　Crone。　Smith　and　Stranger；　Maid　and　Warrior；　she　burnt　them　all　to　the　glory　of　her　cruel　god；　and　you　stood　and　held　your　tongue。　Even　when　she　killed　old　Maester　Cressen；　even　then；　you　did　nothing。
　The　sail　was　a　hundred　yards　away　and　moving　fast　across　the　bay。　In　a　few　more　moments　it　would　be　past　him；　and　dwindling。
　Ser　Davos　Seaworth　began　to　climb　his　rock。
　He　pulled　himself　up　with　trembling　hands；　his　head　swimming　with　fever。　Twice　his　maimed　fingers　slipped　on　the　damp　stone　and　he　almost　fell；　but　somehow　he　managed　to　cling　to　his　perch。　if　he　fell　he　was　dead；　and　he　had　to　live。　For　a　little　while　more；　at　least。　There　was　something　he　had　to　do。
　The　top　of　the　rock　was　too　small　to　stand　on　safely；　as　weak　as　he　was；　so　he　crouched　and　waved　his　fleshless　arms。　〃Ship；〃　he　screamed　into　the　wind。　〃Ship；　here；　here！〃　From　up　here；　he　could　see　her　more　clearly；　the　lean　striped　hull；　the　bronze　figurehead；　the　billowing　sail。　There　was　a　name　painted　on　her　hull；　but　Davos　had　never　learned　to　read。　〃Ship；〃　he　called　again；　〃help　me；　HELP　ME！〃
　A　crewman　on　her　forecastle　saw　him　and　pointed。　He　watched　as　other　sailors　moved　to　the　gunwale　to　gape　at　him。　A　short　while　later　the　galley's　sail　came　down；　her　oars　slid　out；　and　she　swept　around　toward　his　refuge。　She　was　too　big　to　approach　the　rock　closely；　but　thirty　yards　away　she　launched　a　small　boat。　Davos　clung　to　his　rock　and　watched　it　creep　toward　him。　Four　men　were　rowing；　while　a　fifth　sat　in　the　prow。　〃You；〃　the　fifth　man　called　out　when　they　were　only　a　few　feet　from　his　island；　〃you　up　on　the　rock。　Who　are　you？〃
　A　smuggler　who　rose　above　himself；　thought　Davos；　a　fool　who　loved　his　king　too　much；　and　forgot　his　gods。　His　throat　was　parched；　and　he　had　forgotten　how　to　talk。　The　words　felt　strange　on　his　tongue　and　sounded　stranger　in　his　ears。　〃I　was　in　the　battle。　I　was　。　。　。　a　captain；　a　。　。　。　a　knight；　I　was　a　knight。〃
　〃Aye；　ser；〃　the　man　said；　〃and　serving　which　king？〃
　The　galley　might　be　Joffrey's；　he　realized　suddenly。　If　he　spoke　the　wrong　name　now；　she　would　abandon　him　to　his　fate。　But　no；　her　hull　was　striped。　She　was　Lysene；　she　was　Salladhor　Saan's。　The　Mother　sent　her　here；　the　Mother　in　her　mercy。　She　had　a　task　for　him。　Stannis　lives；　he　knew　then。　I　have　a　king　still。　And　sons；　I　have　other　sons；　and　a　wife　loyal　and　loving。　How　could　he　have　forgotten？　The　Mother　was　merciful　indeed。
　〃Stannis；〃　he　shouted　back　at　the　Lyseni。　〃Gods　be　good；　I　serve　King　Stannis。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　the　man　in　the　boat；　〃and　so　do　we。〃
　
　CHAPTER　6
　SANSA
　
　The　invitation　seemed　innocent　enough；　but　every　time　Sansa　read　it　her　tummy　tightened　into　a　knot。　She's　to　be　queen　now；　she's　beautiful　and　rich　and　everyone　loves　her；　why　would　she　want　to　sup　with　a　traitor's　daughter？　It　could　be　curiosity；　she　supposed；　perhaps　Margaery　Tyrell　wanted　to　get　the　measure　of　the　rival　she'd　displaced。　Does　she　resent　me；　I　wonder？　Does　she　think　I　bear　her　ill　Will　。　。　。
　Sansa　had　watched　from　the　castle　walls　as　Margaery　Tyrell　and　her　escort　made　their　way　up　Aegon's　High　Hill。　Joffrey　had　met　his　new　bride…to…be　at　the　King's　Gate　to　wele　her　to　the　city；　and　they　rode　side　by　side　through　cheering　crowds；　Joff　glittering　in　gilded　armor　and　the　Tyrell　girl　splendid　in　green　with　a　cloak　of　autumn　flowers　blowing　from　her　shoulders。　She　was　sixteen；　brown…haired　and　brown…eyed；　slender　and　beautiful。　The　people　called　out　her　name　as　she　passed；　held　up　their　children　for　her　blessing；　and　scattered　flowers　under　the　hooves　of　her　horse。　Her　mother　and　grandmother　followed　close　behind；　riding　in　a　tall　wheelhouse　whose　sides　were　carved　into　the　shape　of　a　hundred　twining　roses；　every　one　gilded　and　shining。　The　smallfolk　cheered　them　as　well。
　The　same　smallfolk　who　pulled　me　from　my　horse　and　would　have　killed　me；　if　not　for　the　Hound。　Sansa　had　done　nothing　to　make　the　mons　hate　her；　no　more　than　Margaery　Tyrell　had　done　to　win　their　love。　Does　she　want　me　to　love　her　too？　She　studied　the　invitation；　which　looked　to　be　written　in　Margaery's　own　hand。　Does　she　want　my　blessing？　Sansa　wondered　if　Joffrey　knew　of　this　supper。　For　all　she　knew；　it　might　be　his　doing。　That　thought　made　her　fearful。　If　Joff　was　behind　the　invitation；　he　would　have　some　cruel　jape　planned　to　shame　her　in　the　older　girl's　eyes。　Would　he　mand　his　Kingsguard　to　strip　her　naked　once　again？　The　last　time　he　had　done　that　his　uncle　Tyrion　had　stopped　him；　but　the　Imp　could　not　save　her　now。
　No　one　can　save　me　but　my　Florian。　Ser　Dontos　had　promised　he　would　help　her　escape；　but　not　until　the　night　of　Joffrey's　wedding。　The　plans　had　been　well　laid；　her　dear　devoted　knight…turned…fool　assured　her；　there　was　nothing　to　do　until　then　but　endure；　and　count　the　days。
　And　sup　with　my　replacement　。　。　。
　Perhaps　she　was　doing　Margaery　Tyrell　an　injustice。　Perhaps　the　invitation　was　no　more　than　a　simple　kindness；　an　act　of　courtesy。　It　might　be　just　a　supper。　But　this　was　the　Red　Keep；　this　was　King's　Landing；　this　was　the　court　of　King　Joffrey　Baratheon；　the　First　of　His　Name；　and　if　there　was　one　thing　that　Sansa　Stark　had　learned　here；　it　was　mistrust。
　Even　so；　she　must　accept。　She　was　nothing　now；　the　discarded　daughter　of　a　traitor　and　disgraced　sister　of　a　rebel　lord。　She　could　scarcely　refuse　Joffrey's　queen…to…be。
　I　wish　the　Hound　were　here。　The　night　of　the　battle；　Sandor　Clegane　had　e　to　her　chambers　to　take　her　from　the　city；　but　Sansa　had　refused。　Sometimes　she　lay　awake　at　night；　wondering　if　she'd　been　wise。　She　had　his　stained　white　cloak　hidden　in　a　cedar　chest　beneath　her　summer　silks。　She　could　not　say　why　she'd　kept　it。　The　Hound　had　turned　craven；　she　heard　it　said；　at　the　height　of　the　battle；　he　got　so　drunk　the　Imp　had　to　take　his　men。　But　Sansa　understood。　She　knew　the　secret　of　his　burned　face。　It　was　only　the　fire　he　feared。　That　night；　the　wildfire　had　set　the　river　itself　ablaze；　and　filled　the　very　air　with　green　flame。　Even　in　the　castle；　Sansa　had　been　afraid。　Outside　。　。　。　she　could　scarcely　imagine　it。
　Sighing；　she　got　out　quill　and　ink；　and　wrote　Margaery　Tyrell　a　gracious　note　of　acceptance。
　When　the　appointed　night　arrived；　another　of　the　Kingsguard　came　for　her；　a　man　as　different　from　Sandor　Clegane　as　。　。　。　well；　as　a）qower　from　a　dog。　The　sight　of　Ser　Loras　Tyrell　standing　on　her　threshold　made　Sansa's　heart　beat　a　little　faster。　This　was　the　first　time　she　had　been　so　close　to　him　since　he　had　returned　to　King's　Landing；　leading　the　vanguard　of　his　father's　host。　For　a　moment　she　did　not　know　what　to　say。　〃Ser　Loras；〃　she　finally　managed；　〃you　。　。　。　you　look　so　lovely。〃
　He　gave　her　a　puzzled　smile。　〃My　lady　is　too　kind。　And　beautiful　besides。　My　sister　awaits　you　eagerly。〃
　〃I　have　so　looked　forward　to　our　supper。〃
　〃As　has　Margaery；　and　my　lady　grandmother　as　well。〃　He　took　her　arm　and　led　her　toward　the　steps。
　〃Your　grandmother？〃　Sansa　was　finding　it　hard　to　walk　and　talk　and　think　all　at　the　same　time；　with　Ser　Loras　touching　her　arm。　She　could　feel　the　warmth　of　his　hand　through　the　silk。
　〃Lady　Olenna。　She　is　to　sup　with　you　as　well。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Sansa。　I　am　talking　to　him；　and　he's　touching　me；　he's　holding　my　arm　and　touching　me。　〃The　Queen　of　Thorns；　she's　called。　Isn't　that　right？〃
　〃It　is。〃　Ser　Loras　laughed。　He　has　the　warmest　laugh；　she　thought　as　he　went　on；　〃You'd　best　not　use　that　name　in　her　presence；　though；　or　you're　like　to　get　pricked。〃
　Sansa　reddened。　Any　fool　would　have　realized　that　no　woman　would　be　happy　about　being　called　〃the　Queen　of　Thorns。〃　Maybe　I